.png)
Father Ken Cumbie Celebrates Retirement
Although unfamiliar with the concept of discernment at the time, I began to sense a call to ministry while in college. Thankfully, there were a few adults in my life who listened and supported me in this rather chaotic time of “discerning” God’s call upon my life. In retrospect, I deeply value the discernment process in the Episcopal Church and specifically in our Diocese.
My spiritual journey eventually led me to the Episcopal Church and ordination as a priest in 1993.
A brief history:
After three years of C.P.E. residency, I served as Chaplain Supervisor at University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia.
I served in a similar capacity at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Washington, D.C.
I served as Director of Pastoral Care and Education, Cox Medical Center, Springfield, Missouri.
After moving to Mobile, I served for one year as Interim Rector, Church of the Redeemer.
I served four years as Priest in Charge, Church of the Good Shepherd.
I served five years as Rector, Holy Spirit in Gulf Shores.
I have served as Rector of St. Luke’s since 2005.
I served for 24 years in the U.S. Navy (Reserved and Active) as a Chaplain.
It has been sheer joy to serve others as a Navy chaplain, as a hospital chaplain, and for the past 23 years as a parish priest. Over and over again my life has been enriched and blessed by others. I will always treasure the ways I have been invited into some of the most holy moments in our lives. To journey with so many as a “wounded healer” has exceeded my expectations and dreams of a successful life. I am deeply satisfied and content! In the words of Kenny Rogers, contemplating his retirement as a recording artist, “I’ve had my turn.”
There will be a celebration of Father Ken's retirement at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile, Alabama on June 24, immediately following the 10 a.m. service.